Oolong Milk Tea-A Healthy and Delicious Beverage

Do you like tea?

Oolong Milk Tea makes a healthy and delicious concoction. A cup of refreshing tea makes everything quiet mornings and busy afternoons more pleasurable. Oolong milk tea is a delectable option to boost mood and energy.

Numerous studies have shown that various teas improve your immune system and help fight inflammation. Reports indicate that tea even wards off heart disease and help fight cancer and heart disease. Studies have also shown that drinking tea regularly can have a lasting impact on your wellness.

Tea provides much health benefits if you follow the proper methods and use the right ingredients. It can be one of the healthiest drinks in the world. It offers benefits, including detoxification, help in digestion, and weight loss.

This article will discuss oolong tea, its origin, benefits, taste, and other aspects.

What is Oolong Milk Tea?

Oolong milk tea is neither green tea nor black tea. It carves out its category of tea. However, if you consider how it is prepared, it may resemble black or green tea, depending on its processing and preparation method.

Oolong milk tea is made from the dried leaves and leaf buds of the Camellia sinensis plant. These buds and leaves make various teas, including black and green teas.

The fermentation duration of oolong tea is more extended than green tea but less than black tea. Oolong has caffeine that stimulates the central nervous system, heart, and muscles. It also affects thinking and enhances alertness.

 People consume oolong tea to enhance mental alertness, manage obesity, and control diabetes; It is also helpful in controlling blood pressure, autism, and many other conditions.

Origin of Oolong Milk Tea

Oolong tea is an ode to the classical artisan mastership of tea processing. The flavor of oolong tea varies wildly from region to region. The processing methods employed are also different.

China and Taiwan are considered to be the origins of oolong tea. It is highly revered in these countries.

It is believed that the Chinese gave the tea the name “wulong” or “black dragon” due to its big dark tea leaves. The leaves were twisted and heavily oxidized. The shape resembled the mystical Chinese dragon.

Another story confirms that Wu Liang, a tea farmer, discovered the oolong tea by accident. The farmer observed the oxidation of tea leaves. Oolong is grown in high mountainous and rocky terrain. The cool weather suits the tree. Oolong, therefore, gets a rich flavor due to the harsh environment.

Although the most famous oolongs come from China and Taiwan, different oolong flavors are being made in other parts of the world. Countries like Sri Lanka, India, Japan, New Zealand, and Thailand are a few of the countries which also produce oolong teas.

Oolong Milk Tea Taste  

What does oolong tea taste like? It was the first question that came to my mind when I read about it.

The flavor of oolong tea ranges from variety to variety. It may vary from sweet to toasty and grassy to floral. It is due to different processing techniques employed by the tea master. The processing method also impacts the color of the leaves. It can vary from green to golden or brown. Similarly, the hue of the brewed tea also varies.

The difference in the flavors of oolong teas can be compared to the differences between fine wines. Although all wines are produced from grapes, the combination of different varieties of grapes, the geographies, and the terrains where they are grown determines how the wine will taste. Wines produced even in the same country may have different flavor profiles.

Like wine competition observed in Italy, France, or California, you can find the same oolong competition across Asia. Oolong is hugely popular in Asian countries, and the competition is to honor the artisanship of the tea producers.

Oolong teas are judged based on the shape and appearance of the dry and wet leaves and the brewed tea’s aroma, taste, and color.

Oolong milk tea has a delicate and floral aroma and is known for its unique flavor profile. The flavor varies depending on the specific variety. It is slightly sweet and fruity and has a hint of nuttiness.

Oolong Milk Tea Caffeine

Does oolong tea have caffeine? What do you think?

Various factors determine the caffeine levels of any beverage. These factors include the variety of the plant, the processing method, and the brewing procedure.

If you consider a comparative analysis, the caffeine content of oolong tea falls between green and black tea. Oolong tea is lightly oxidized and has lower caffeine levels, similar to green tea. On the other hand, a highly oxidized oolong tea will have higher caffeine levels, similar to black tea.

However, this is not a thumb rule; the caffeine levels can vary depending on the cultivation method of the tea plant and the processing technique. 

Buying and Storing Oolong Milk Tea

Proper storage of oolong tea ensures that your tea can remain fresh as long as possible. However, you must buy tea from a reputable company. The supplier should be able to tell you the date and technique of processing the tea you are buying. You can also get the when storage tips that can help prolong the tea’s life.

It is vital to get information from the tea vendor about the oxidation levels of oolong tea. If the teas are oxidized more, they will be more shelf stable than less oxidized ones. The oolong tea may not spoil, but it can get stale if it stays too long.

Proper storage in an opaque container in a cool and dark place can last anywhere between six months to twenty-four months. You should keep it away from pantry items and spices as they can leach flavor into the tea leaves.

How to Prepare Oolong Tea

Many oolong teas have different brewing temperatures and steeping times due to their oxidation levels and processing techniques.

Here are some of the brewing tips for oolong tea:

Benefits of Oolong Milk Tea

Oolong milk tea benefits are many. However, it is effective for mental alertness. Oolong tea, like any other caffeinated beverage, helps maintain vigilance. It aids cognitive performance.

There are several other benefits, but studies do not adequately support them. Oolong tea has polyphenol antioxidants that help maintain normal blood sugar levels. This antioxidant also minimizes the risk of developing type-2 diabetes. However, more research is needed to support this claim.

Oolong Milk Tea Vs Green Tea

Oolong and green tea provide various health benefits, and most benefits are similar. Their advantages make a great refreshing and mood-elevating addition to your morning routine.

Some benefits include reducing high blood pressure and lowering the risk of developing type-2 diabetes. However, which type of tea scores over the other in providing health benefits comes down to their chemical composition.

Green tea, compared to oolong tea, provides more concentrated amounts of polyphenols and catechins such as EGCG. They are responsible for delivering excellent health benefits.

It indicates that green tea has more antioxidant properties than oolong tea. These antioxidants help increase mental focus and reduce heart disease risk. Antioxidants eliminate free radicals that cause oxidative stress, thus helping lower blood sugar levels.

Green tea is also helpful in accelerating weight loss, but it’s not the only tea to do this. According to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, oolong tea consumption increases metabolism and fat oxidation by 12. Therefore body can burn fat more efficiently

These two teas offer similar health benefits in varying degrees, so you need not choose one or the other. Drink oolong tea to boost bone health or lower blood pressure.

I often take oolong milk tea in the afternoon but prefer a cup of hot tea in the morning. Which tea do you choose in the morning- green or oolong tea?

Oolong Milk Tea FAQs

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